84 SEATS AND SADDLES. 



which this is practised, to the great increase of rup- 

 tures amongst the men, and broken knees amongst the 

 horses. 



The plan adopted in England is to avoid the recoil 

 by rising in the stirrups, which of course is the most 

 sensible way for a man who has to ride long distances 

 and is not encumbered with weapons. It has, how- 

 ever, its inconveniences, especially if the stirrup is 

 placed very far forward ; for then, in the first place, 

 the foot being thrust home in the stirrup, the elasticity 

 of the rider's leg is not utilised ; and even when this 

 is not the case, the " tread " being oblique cannot have 

 the effect intended ; secondly, the whole seat is aban- 

 doned for a certain time, nothing remaining in contact 

 with the horse except the leg from the knee down- 

 wards, which is of little use ; thirdly, the horse learns 

 to lean on the hand, for the rider must depend on his 

 reins, for a moment of time at least, which of course 

 renders correct bitting impossible ;* finally, the rider's 

 weight is being constantly transferred from the hind to 

 the fore quarters of the horse. There may be average 

 equilibrium, but it is never permanently in the right 

 place, and hence the danger ; for a sudden start or 

 stumble at the moment the rider is in the air, is the 

 most common cause of the accidents that occur so 

 frequently. 



Now, in truth, there is no reason why this English 

 system of rising in the stirrups (in trotting) should not 

 be practised equally well, not to say better, with the 

 stirrup near the middle of the saddle instead of at one 



* Ladies have in general a much lighter hand than men, their 

 seat is firmer and closer, and their horses are usually properly 

 bitted. 



